I'm getting the urge to swap my car for something fun in the twisties.

However I've really come to love the Superb and was wondering can it be made to handle so I can maybe have some fun in it?

Or am I wasting my time?

Handling can be improved to the point where you can carry more speed through the bends, but it'll never get to a point where you'd be able to say it handles like a sports car.

Depends on how out of shape you want to get in the corners I guess.

I lot of poor handling and lack of confidence when negotiating corners in the MK1 Superb comes from the fact the shock absorbers deteriorate very quickly, but over miles you grow accustomed to it and just take it as it is, until one day you realise you are driving an old barge!

Some new shocks will do a great deal of justice to the car, and what you go for is up to you and your wallet, but Bilstein is warmly recommended from my experience. For about half the price of Bilstein B6 shocks you could get a set of KYB Gas-A-just (also monotube design), though many people rate them a harder ride than the Bilsteins).

Also replacing worn sloppy bushes helps too. MK1 front suspension is fairly complex and a bit of sloppiness in all the joints just annihilates the feel and handling precision. Replacing the upper arms improved the feel of my car and they were only £75 a set of 4 (FEBI-Bilstein made), but be weary of the pinch bolt as it will have to come out!

Bilstein B6 monotube shock absorbers all round really do fix the barge handling. Make sure the rest of suspension is in good shape, if you carry larger loads also consider OE HD rear springs / OE sport front springs for level car when fully loaded.

My car handles at least 10mph+ better into corners on A507 Baldock - Buntingford than the very same 9 months old 15k mileage Mk1 Superb, I did before and after comparisons on this twisty, hilly road and the difference was 10mph+ on all corners. B6s are quite durable, 103k miles after fitting handling is still good as new.

But if you want a track car, probably best to look at something else, in fact non-VAG brands.

Innit all Vag cars are too bloody heavy from that period. I had a mk4 GTI but it was a pig!

I'd like a track car but not for everyday and can't afford to run 2 atm. So I think I'll just make the superb better.

I just want something I can enjoy in the twisted a big rather than trying to tame the weight and body roll.

It has enough power

Anyone know a good place to get these things bought and fitted?

As for heavy loads 95% of the time it's just me.

Say once a month it'll have 5 people in it when we go for our monthly family meal out lol.

I bought it for the gadgets, economy and motorway cruising ability originally.

I had a Mini Cooper S before so as you can imagine the handling is.... Different. But I've had it a year now and I bloody love it.

I've had a look for these Bilstein B6s but can't find them for the superb?

Here are part numbers for various Mk1 Superb engines

katalog.bilstein.de is a good link to remember

I believe B6 part numbers are 24-065122 front and 24-065429 rear for both 4-cyl and 6-cyl. which would make the handling a bit more firm on the 1.9 as it is ~100kg less weight up front. 2.5V6 ride comfort is pretty much stock after fitting B6s (with handling greatly improved), so it should not be too firm on the 1.9.

Here are part numbers for various Mk1 Superb engines

katalog.bilstein.de is a good link to remember

I believe B6 part numbers are 24-065122 front and 24-065429 rear for both 4-cyl and 6-cyl. which would make the handling a bit more firm on the 1.9 as it is ~100kg less weight up front. 2.5V6 ride comfort is pretty much stock after fitting B6s (with handling greatly improved), so it should not be too firm on the 1.9.

I'm not too fussed on ride comfort if I'm honest. Coming from a Mini most things are comfortable.

Edited 12 May, 201313 yr by Alan16ac

I have just fitted(Friday just gone) a set of Bilstein B12's. Which is a kit of slightly shorter B6'S with Eibach -30mm springs. I have just been up to Crewe and back and the car is transformed. Yes the ride is firm but not harsh, but the the way is now handles is really very good for such a barge.

I have just fitted(Friday just gone) a set of Bilstein B12's. Which is a kit of slightly shorter B6'S with Eibach -30mm springs. I have just been up to Crewe and back and the car is transformed. Yes the ride is firm but not harsh, but the the way is now handles is really very good for such a barge.

Where did you get them fitted. I can find the B12s but no UK place seems to sell B6s.

I fitted them outside on the drive They came from Damian@ DPM Performance http://www.briskoda....pm-performance/

I was looking at the B6's but the B12 kit was a little cheaper.

They are a few places doing the B6 online and i guess Damian could get them also.

Here is how the car sits now.

Looking good..

Little update

On the drive to work this morning i was following a new style mini cooper down some county roads.....i think he was a little shocked to see me on his tail all the way through, and he was giving it some beans. Much improvement to last week on the same road

So in answer to your original question i would say it has to be a yes, it will never be M5/M5 but it is so much better than it was.

Will have to get some ordered.

Thanks for the advice.

Any advice on improving my brakes too?

Will have to get some ordered.

Thanks for the advice.

Any advice on improving my brakes too?

Brakes are my next thing to look at, so sorry i don't know yet.

Brakes are my next thing to look at, so sorry i don't know yet.

What about these http://www.awesomegti.com/car/skoda/superb/skoda-superb-front-330x26-tarox-big-brake-kit

I run EBC Yellow kevlar brake pads on standard 312mm V6 brake discs (OE, Febi, TRX), been using them for the last 3 sets. Front pads are EBC DP41483R, rear pads are EBC DP4680R. Work very well, can stand repeated emergency 140mph-50mph autobahn braking (do not even consider trying that with stock brakes), and do not cost 2 grand.

288mm brake discs, if you have them, can be upgraded to 312mm by just replacing caliper carriers and discs.

If you are using uprated pads, make sure brake fluid is replaced with Castrol Super Dot 4 (current name Castrol React Performance Dot 4), otherwise these pads can boil the brake fluid quite easily. Do not use Motul 5.1 and similar, thinner brake fluids, as they will make your clutch squeak when pressed. First hand experience of that.

Total cost of this mod is about £170, and a couple of hours at most.

I run EBC Yellow kevlar brake pads on standard 312mm V6 brake discs (OE, Febi, TRX), been using them for the last 3 sets. Front pads are EBC DP41483R, rear pads are EBC DP4680R. Work very well, can stand repeated emergency 140mph-50mph autobahn braking (do not even consider trying that with stock brakes), and do not cost 2 grand.

288mm brake discs, if you have them, can be upgraded to 312mm by just replacing caliper carriers and discs.

If you are using uprated pads, make sure brake fluid is replaced with Castrol Super Dot 4 (current name Castrol React Performance Dot 4), otherwise these pads can boil the brake fluid quite easily. Do not use Motul 5.1 and similar, thinner brake fluids, as they will make your clutch squeak when pressed. First hand experience of that.

Total cost of this mod is about £170, and a couple of hours at most.

So if I just get some caliper carriers from a V6 Superb, are they a straight swap onto my calipers? Can they be from the diesel or petrol V6?

Is it okay to use 5.1 though as on previous cars I feel it made a massive difference to brake fade over dot 4.

Can you get braided lines for the Superb. To give it more feel?

You do not need new calipers, same calipers fit, all you need is new caliper carriers (basically the mounts to the wheel hub), discs and pads. But measure your discs first, maybe they are 312mm already and you need just the pads/new discs.

DOT 5.1 is too thin and will make your clutch squeak, took less than 6 months on my car to get there. That Castrol React Performance Dot 4 I mentioned earlier exceeds DOT5.1 spec but is thicker and does not cause long term problems.

Haven't played with the braided lines etc, normally I always go for biggest bang for buck mod. BTW, slotted/drilled rotors eat pads much faster, I find kevlar+normal discs works much longer and just as good.

Edited 15 May, 201313 yr by dieselV6

What about these?

http://www.venommotorsport.com/product_details.php?id=50789&manufacturer=Weitec&category=Suspension

Will B5.5 Passat suspension fit straight onto the Superb? As there seems to be an awful lot more out there for the Passat.

It will fit straight on. Just be aware different engines have different axle weights, fitting 1.9 springs onto a 2.5 car will result in bigger suspension drop.

I do not like suspension drops on these cars, they detract too much from what the cars DNA is about. But very happy with my Bilstein B6 shocks (rears fitted a week ago) - now done 2000 miles, and getting very nicely bedded in. In fact I am now in the middle of Serbia 1500 miles from home, travelled down some pretty dodgy roads and the suspension is awesome, equally happy on the motorway as down the B roads with lots of patched up potholes!

Can warmly recommend it on standard springs.

Found a way to keep the lovely smooth ride of the superb. And stick to the road like glue!

My new toy!

That's what I did too Alan! :sun:

Here's mine - no torque, max revs Complete opposite of the Superb:

Best £400 I've ever spent. Although I have to say I'm dead envious of your pop-up headlights

Gaz

The pop ups are great. It's very fun to drive too. Set me back £1300 but that's a bargain with what's been spent on it.

I considered a CRX too but I've always wanted to try an MX5.

Edited 29 May, 201313 yr by Alan16ac

Very nice looking MX5 there, shame putting the number plate on spoils the look. Used to love the pop-ups on my old MR2 but always envied the US-style low-rise twin light conversion you could do to the MX5. And the BBR turbo conversion...

SWMBO used to have a Mk 2, but with its bigger seats the cockpit was just too tight for me to drive any distance in comfort. So had to get my fun in quick